In the distance, Wei Wan watched with a face alternating between green and pale, her tent remaining untouched. She had originally planned to ask Pei Chuan for help after he finished setting up his own tent, watching him work with practiced ease, but she never expected him to directly assist Bei Yao instead.
Unable to accept this, she abandoned her tent and strode over.
Wei Wan, wearing a summer skirt, called out, "Pei Chuan."
Pei Chuan continued his work without looking up. The boy was drenched in sweat, the lingering summer heat proving unbearable.
Wei Wan said awkwardly, "I don’t know how to set up a tent. Can you help me?"
After securing the tent, Pei Chuan replied coldly, "No."
Wei Wan glanced at Bei Yao, who stood nearby looking somewhat bewildered, and felt utterly humiliated by the direct refusal. She nearly blurted out why he could help Bei Yao but not her.
However, she wasn’t completely thoughtless. Bei Yao showed no secret delight or pleasure—she too seemed puzzled by Pei Chuan’s help. Moreover, the way Bei Yao looked at Pei Chuan was pure, not the adoration of a girl for a boy, but simply trust and familiarity.
In that moment, a wild thought crossed Wei Wan’s mind: Could Pei Chuan be suffering from unrequited love?
Wei Wan froze, stunned by the realization.
She looked at the aloof Pei Chuan setting up the tent, then at the stunningly beautiful yet clueless girl beside him. The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. What’s more, that girl named Bei Yao might be completely unaware of Pei Chuan’s feelings!
Once she figured it out, Wei Wan was furious. She had always been the type people fawned over since childhood. This was the first time she had tried to win someone over, only to be met with extreme indifference. And to make matters worse, he had feelings for another girl but didn’t even dare confess, while that girl remained utterly oblivious!
The person she couldn’t have might be someone another girl could easily obtain—or didn’t even want.
Wei Wan’s expression turned extremely unpleasant.
Without another word, she returned. Zheng Hang and Jin Ziyang had finished setting up their tent together.
Jin Ziyang boasted, "Damn, I’m amazing! I’m in love with myself." He raised an arm and shouted, "Ladies, who needs Young Master Jin’s help? Raise your hands!"
One girl smiled generously and raised her hand. "Thank you, Young Master Jin!"
"Don’t mention it!"
Wei Wan had considered raising her hand, but seeing someone else beat her to it only infuriated her further.
Zheng Hang approached and said, "Let me help you."
Suppressing her anger, Wei Wan replied, "Okay."
As they worked on the tent together, standing very close, Wei Wan asked him, "Zheng Hang, did Pei Chuan know that Bei Yao girl before?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know what their relationship is?"
"Not really. I’ve never heard Brother Chuan mention her before."
Someone he never even talks about?
A glint flashed in Wei Wan’s eyes.
~
In the summer fields, the chirping of insects echoed intermittently. The ground beneath was far from soft. Pei Chuan lay with his arms pillowing his head, the tent flap slightly open. The night breeze rustled the fabric, and from not far away came the sounds of Jin Ziyang and the others playing cards.
Normally, he would have joined them, but tonight he hadn’t.
The tent flap was lifted, and Pei Chuan looked up to see a delicate, lovely face peeking in.
Meeting her clear, almond-shaped eyes, Bei Yao said cheerfully, "Guess what I brought?"
Gazing at her peerlessly beautiful face in the night, he murmured, "I can’t guess."
The girl produced a bottle of floral water from behind her back.
Bei Yao explained, "There are so many mosquitoes here, and they even sneak into the tents. It’s too dark inside to swat them. Good thing I brought this floral water. Do you want to spray some?"He neither agreed nor disagreed, his dark eyes fixed on her: "Bei Yao."
"Hmm?"
"Back then." His voice paused. "I lied to you. After all this time, I've become what I am now. How can you still interact with me as if nothing happened?" How little must she care about him to not store any memory of him in her mind?
The young girl looked into his eyes, seemingly perplexed. He heard her whisper softly: "But you're Pei Chuan." The Pei Chuan who grew up with me, who willfully drew the "38th parallel" between us, who brought an extra bottle of water every summer, the boy who walked home with me countless times.
His fist suddenly clenched. Though he knew she didn't mean it that way, his heart almost uncontrollably tightened and then relaxed.
His voice was low: "Give me the mosquito repellent."
"Oh."
Pei Chuan stood up and casually sprayed a few times before handing it back to her. The strong scent of the mosquito repellent spread through the narrow tent.
She said: "Pei Chuan, see you tomorrow!"
Only after the tent was closed did he let out a soft laugh. Because he was Pei Chuan - what a ridiculous yet endearing reason. Yet she had never truly understood Pei Chuan.
~
Early the next morning, after all ten team members had their phones confiscated, they were randomly led into the jungle. Beside Bei Yao was a cluster of vibrant summer flowers in full bloom. Having changed into long sleeves, she began walking into the jungle.
The broadcast from the trees announced: "Students, the first day of survival begins now. Current survivors: 10. Eliminated: 0. Everyone should quickly find lunch, or you'll go hungry."
Bei Yao stared at the broadcast for a while. So they would announce the number of survivors.
To be honest, she felt this survival summer camp was just rich people finding ways to amuse themselves with nothing better to do, and it really wasn't suitable for her. But since she was already here, and she wasn't one to give up easily, Bei Yao unfolded the map and began looking for the survival points marked on it.
The small light dot on her collar flashed intermittently, though its glow was barely noticeable in the sunlight.
Bei Yao couldn't see it herself.
On the other side of the jungle, Pei Chuan frowned at his positioning device.
Bei Yao was very far from him.
They had practically been separated to opposite ends of the jungle. That small light dot kept flashing as it diligently searched for a path.
Pei Chuan narrowed his eyes. Actually, this wasn't auspicious. Even with random assignment, she and he were at the farthest distance from each other. They never had any fate between them, but so what?
Pei Chuan began walking in Bei Yao's direction.
The first person he encountered was Jin Ziyang, who was scratching his head in confusion while spinning around: "Damn, what kind of place is this? Have I been here before? Have I? Probably not."
Pei Chuan expressionlessly bypassed him and continued alone.
With tall trees that all looked similar, it was easy to get lost in the jungle. He didn't bother looking for the so-called lunch supply points, instead heading straight toward the small dot on his positioning device.
"Pei Chuan!" Wei Wan's eyes lit up as she ran over from about ten meters away. "Wait for me."
She arrived panting heavily, but Pei Chuan's steps didn't slow.
Wei Wan finally caught up with him: "Huff... I can't find my way. I can't locate the resource points marked on the map at all. Pei Chuan, can I team up with you?"
"No." His voice was flat. "Get lost."
The smile vanished from Wei Wan's face. She murmured: "You're going to find Bei Yao, aren't you? You like her, don't you?"Pei Chuan paused mid-step. "None of your business."
"But she doesn't like you!" she said sharply with a hint of satisfaction. "I'm a girl too, I can tell! She doesn't have any of those feelings for you."
Pei Chuan whirled around, his dark eyes cold and furious.
It was the first time Wei Wan had seen him so angry. Though frightened inside, she thought, What I said was the truth—Pei Chuan had repeatedly humiliated her! Now it was his turn to taste the bitterness of being rejected by someone he liked.
Wei Wan took a step back. "She doesn't like you, but I really do! Can't you look at me?"
Seeing that the cold anger in Pei Chuan's eyes hadn't faded and that her confession hadn't moved him, Wei Wan said, "If you don't believe she doesn't like you, you can ask her directly! Or I'll go ask her!"
"You dare!"
For a moment, Wei Wan felt an overwhelming rage emanating from him.
Why was he afraid of Bei Yao finding out?
A thought crossed Wei Wan's mind. "Be with me, and I won't tell her."
Was she threatening him? Wei Wan had been pampered by Zheng Hang for a year, to the point where she forgot her place and actually thought she was something special.
Pei Chuan laughed. He stepped closer to her, the cold anger fading from his face, replaced by a wild smile. "You really like me?"
"Yes."
He grabbed her right wrist, his expression lazy and unruly.
This was the first time Pei Chuan had touched her. Wei Wan's heart raced wildly, dizzy from the boy's rogue and unrestrained aura. "D-Do you agree?"
"Hmm? What do you think?" He leaned in closer. Pei Chuan was tall, with sharp, cold features.
Wei Wan's face slowly reddened. "I didn't mean to threaten you. I just... like you."
He chuckled mockingly. "What a pity. The sight of you disgusts me. Try going to her and see what happens."
With that, he abruptly released her wrist. Wei Wan's wrist throbbed with pain, but she could only watch helplessly as Pei Chuan walked away.
Wei Wan was furious. "It hurts so much."
She looked down at her reddened wrist, feeling utterly wronged. But when her gaze shifted upward moments later, Wei Wan froze.
Her emergency wristwatch had gone dark...
Wei Wan nearly lost her mind. What did it mean for the wristwatch to go dark? It meant that if she couldn't find food or shelter, she wouldn't be able to call for help.
She frantically pressed the two buttons, but there was no response.
Was Pei Chuan insane? How could he do this to her?
~
Pei Chuan didn't encounter anyone else after that. After all, the jungle was vast. He walked from early morning until afternoon before finally finding Bei Yao in front of her tent.
The sun had already set.
She was setting up her tent using the method he had taught her. Hearing footsteps, Bei Yao turned warily, a piece of bread still held between her lips.
When she saw Pei Chuan, her almond-shaped eyes first lit up with joy, then she awkwardly removed the bread.
"Pei Chuan, what a coincidence to run into you. I've been walking for so long and haven't met anyone."
"Yeah, what a coincidence."
The boy was drenched in sweat, his black T-shirt soaked through. Yet his gaze remained exceptionally calm. At sixteen, his sturdy arms, exposed to the air, glistened with beads of perspiration.
Pei Chuan's T-shirt was dark with sweat. The sun was gradually sinking in the west.
How far had he walked?
Bei Yao abandoned her tent setup and walked over to the silent boy. "Did you find anything to eat at noon?"
He glanced at Bei Yao's gentle, bright eyes and answered truthfully, "No." He hadn't even bothered to look.Bei Yao knew that food was hard to come by. She had walked for a long time before finally finding something to eat at noon, and then walked quite a distance before locating a tent.
Afraid she wouldn’t find food again by nightfall, she divided her lunch into two portions—eating the boxed meal right away and saving the rest. As soon as she found the tent, she immediately set it up—once it got dark, it would be too late.
Her heart ached for the young man. Bei Yao crouched down, rummaged through her bag, and handed him a carton of milk, a sausage, a pack of biscuits, and a small cake.
"Eat up."
"What about you?"
Her eyes held a gentle smile. "I’ve already eaten. I’m not hungry."
In truth, she hadn’t had dinner, but she still had a piece of bread left—one she had already taken a bite from. She sat down beside him and nibbled on the bread. Bei Yao was so hungry she could eat anything.
Pei Chuan inserted a straw into the milk carton and handed it to Bei Yao.
Then he picked up the opened bottle of mineral water beside her, unscrewed the cap, and took two large gulps.
"Hey..." Bei Yao was stunned. "That’s my..."
"Hmm?"
"Never mind." Bei Yao sighed, wanting to say it was the one she had drunk from, but would he feel awkward if she pointed it out?
"Let’s eat quickly," she said. "We can keep searching afterward."
Unfortunately, supplies were far from as "plentiful" as the teachers had claimed. They couldn’t find a second tent.
Feeling disappointed, Bei Yao was about to speak when Pei Chuan said, "You take the tent. I can manage for one night."
With that, he lay down right beside her tent, using his backpack as a pillow, his demeanor utterly composed. Left with no choice, Bei Yao thought for a moment and said, "You should use some mosquito repellent."
Pei Chuan replied, "Mm."
After applying the repellent, his closed eyes opened. Under the gentle moonlight, very close to him, the girl’s voice was soft and sweet, like a breeze in March. She said, "Pei Chuan, this isn’t fun at all. You shouldn’t participate in things like this in the future—it’s quite dangerous."
"Mm."
"I’m a little scared. I originally thought I’d leave the forest by the second or third day." It was exhausting, and matters like washing up were also an issue. Drenched in sweat during summer, she felt grimy. Although Bei Yao was lucky enough to find water and shelter, she couldn’t understand the appeal of this survival summer camp.
"Don’t be afraid," he said softly. "I’ll take you to find the treasure."
She laughed. "You can’t even find food," she teased. "And you’re talking about treasure?"
He said, "Yeah, I’m lucky to have you, Bei Yao."
His voice was deep. He had grown up, his Adam’s apple prominent, his tone already that of a man. For some reason, Bei Yao felt a little shy. She fell silent and said, "Goodnight."
During the night, a remote-controlled small aircraft arrived to deliver replacement supplies.
A clear broadcast announced: "Tao Hanhan has given up on survival. Remaining participants: 9. Eliminated: 1."
The next morning, Bei Yao handed Pei Chuan a wet wipe.
She hadn’t slept well—the ground was uncomfortable, and her face showed signs of fatigue. Pei Chuan, who had slept outdoors, showed no signs of weariness. His physique was robust; even when exhausted, a short rest was enough to restore him.
Carrying her small backpack, Pei Chuan kept his promise and took Bei Yao to search for food.
His sense of direction was excellent. In less than an hour, they found their breakfast.
He casually picked up a cold sandwich and a bottle of mineral water. "Stay here and don’t move. I’ll check the surroundings."
He returned shortly. "There’s a small pond nearby. Want to go wash up?"
Bei Yao was overjoyed. Sure enough, not far away, there was a small pond.Bei Yao said, "Do you want to wash up?" He had sweated even more than she had, and under the sun, it had almost crystallized into salt grains.
Pei Chuan paused briefly. "You go first."
The small pond was formed by accumulated rainwater, roughly two square meters in size. Bei Yao moved a small stone to sit on, cupping water in her hands to wash her face. The summer restlessness faded considerably. The water was cool and refreshing, incredibly comfortable, and she didn't want to leave.
However, thinking of Pei Chuan, she finished washing her face briskly.
Pei Chuan casually wiped his face a couple of times, then said, "It's not noon yet. Play in the water for a while before we go. No rush."
Her voice was crisp and clear, brimming with happiness. "Okay."
Birds chirped in the jungle, summer cicadas droned incessantly, and the sun rose higher.
Pei Chuan caught a cicada from a tree. When he returned, she had taken off her shoes, her delicate little feet glowing white in the sunlight.
She was splashing water playfully.
Pei Chuan didn't approach. He leaned against a tree, watching her quietly.
Wei Wan had said, I can tell! She doesn't have any of those feelings for you.
He knew, so he had once given up. He didn't want her pity or sympathy; he wanted to stand beside her as a man.
He had even hated her.
Before high school.
He thought, why did she have to appear in his life? To pity him out of kindness, then make him watch her fall in love and marry someone else, all while smiling and wishing her well?
He hated that she would never like him. So he had given up for a time—someone as disgusting and dark as him might as well live on in her memory, where at least it would remain pure.
Yet he was lured back.
Returned as a demon to claim what he wanted.
The summer sunlight was gentle, not blazing. The girl had rolled her pants up to her knees, her calves even and slender, her toes pink and adorable.
His dark eyes were intense. The cicada in his palm couldn't withstand his grip, letting out a sharp, drawn-out "screech—!"
She turned back in the sunlight. His heart pounded so hard it hurt his chest, leaving him momentarily speechless.
"For you."
Pei Chuan opened his hand; the cicada had stopped moving.
"..."
"..."
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